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TNR trappers carefully covered the cats in their care waiting for spay/neuter surgeries on the ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic in West Midwood in October. Photo by Alan Bennett Neighbors Unite for Midwood TNR by Meredith Weiss, NYC Feral Cat Initiative and Neighborhood Cats TNR-certified West Midwood residents Sue Bolles and Alan Bennett don't feed cats, but they teamed up to raise awareness about TNR in their free-roaming-cat-filled neighborhood. The result was an impressive show of interest and cooperation among more than two dozen individuals: volunteers, donors, feeders, and trappers who banded together to get the job done! Thirty-three cats and kittens were trapped for the monthly Neighborhood Cats/ASPCA clinic in October! Several kittens were taken in for adoption. Alan gave over his garage for the project and Sue arranged for shifts of volunteers to feed and clean the cats twice a day for almost a week. Here are some comments from the area residents: Mucho thanks to Alan, Sue, and the others for putting yourselves out for us. I dislike cats and couldn't trap or feed them. My newspapers and cat food do not account for as much as you had to do. Thanks for all of us. – EM Dear Alana and Susan, I was not involved in this project but followed all the emails as it developed and unfolded as if it were a great book of fiction…But this is not fiction! It is real and it is fantastic. Neighbors helping neighbors and working together and bringing the best of West Midwood together for the benefit of all. I guess the next project is the "Feeders"…how do we explain that they are hurting the creatures they want to help? Thanks again!
And from Alan, who may have gotten more than he bargained for: After deciding to help the neighborhood with its feral cat problem, I volunteered my garage, time, and efforts for a program that looked like the best solution out there for this problem. Other neighbors followed through on their promises to help out. The cats were easy to catch after Sue had laid the groundwork of meeting and briefing the feeders and sending out fliers, etc. Having the 24-plus cats in my garage was no easy feat. People sent sheets, newspapers, food, and money, and did show up for their shifts. I enjoyed meeting many neighbors. Everyone seemed pleased to be there. I felt this cooperation meant people believed in this program. I was surprised and happy to see the involvement of the veteran TNR people throughout the project. I think it all went smoothly. Thirty-two cats (and counting) were fixed. It was more work- and time-intensive than I thought it would be. At the end, some of the others disappeared. I didn't have that luxury and wound up doing a couple of five-hour days to just close it out. The TNR veterans are still on the case and that is important if this neighborhood is going to really see a change. In my opinion, feeders need to stop feeding every cat that comes by. Stop putting food around their property. They need to take responsibility for the cats they do feed and clean up after them. They need to be responsive to their neighbors and minimize the burden they force upon them. Keeping the population down seems key. As a community, what can we do to encourage better behavior on the part of the feeders and what are we are willing to do to follow up, now that this one project is over? – Alan
Over two dozen cats were cared for in Alan Bennett's garage before and after their spay/neuter surgeries. Photo by Alan Bennett Our plan now is to seek a venue for a TNR workshop in this neighborhood to further enlighten and educate the residents. While 33 cats spayed and neutered is a great start, all of these cats were trapped within just a few blocks! We'll focus on the sentiment echoed throughout: feeders can't simply feed and must be mindful of the consequences to both the cats and their neighbors. Several colonies will be outfitted with winter shelters and we'll stay in touch with this community. Kudos to Sue and Alan — they did a terrific job! About the Author Meredith Weiss is the TNR Director for the New York City Feral Cat Initiative, and she has been a Board Member of Neighborhood Cats since 2000. She is widely recognized for her compelling photographs of feral cats that have appeared in Cat Fancy, The New York Times, and Newsday, among other publications. She has received a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers Association for her color photography series that appeared in the Fall 2003 issue of the ASPCA's Animal Watch. |
